Locking mechanism for tool box



Aug. 1, 1967 J. E. SWINK ETAL LOCKING MECHANISM FOR TOOL BOX Filed Oct. 18, 1965 .MMM 6 mvzzmorzs 02445.55 5144M? By CHAELE; E. DAM 5 47'raeA/Ey United States Patent 3,333,910 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR TOOL BOX James E. Swink and Charles E. Dawes, Fort Smith, Ark., assignors to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,794 3 Claims. (Cl. 312221) The present invention relates generally to chests or cabinets having drawers, and more particularly to a tool chest having a plurality of drawers and provided with mechanism for locking all of the drawers in closed position to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the drawers.

It is common to provide cabinet structures or chests, such as tool chests having a plurality of drawers, with a locking arrangement designed to secure all of the drawers in colsed position when not in use. This is obviously desirable in order to prevent misappropriation or unauthorized use of the tools. In general, such locking arrangements provide mechanism whereby a control drawer which is provided with a key lock, and which therefore can be locked individually, actuates locking mechanism that locks other drawers in the closed position when the control drawer is in closed position. Many types of locking arrangements of this general character have heretofore been developed but possess various features that are objected to. For example, some are complex and require considerable maintenance. Others are not readily adaptable to tool chests of different sizes, shapes and dimensions and, accordingly, become relatively expensive to manufacture.

Thus it becomes a general object of the present invention to provide mechanism for a tool chest adapted to be operated in response to movement of a control drawer to lock other drawers in closed position, such mechanism being simple in operation and secure in operation.

It is also an object of the invention to. provide a locking structure of this type which is easily adapted to chests of different sizes and shapes by simple variation in the dimensions, such as the length, of operative parts of the locking mechanism and which can be easily adapted to different patterns of the drawers, that is, the different arrangements or Vertical dimensions of the drawers.

A further object is to provide a drawer locking mechanism of this general character which permits any one of the other drawers to be pushed into closed position and locked while the control drawer is in closed position and holding the locking mechanism in locking position.

How these and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved will be more readily understood by reference to the following description, and

to the annexed drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view from the rear and side showing a tool box, with the exterior walls broken away to reveal locking mechanism inside the box, embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical rear elevation of some of the drawers and a portion of the locking bar, viewed as indicated by line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary veritical section through the tool box housing showing in side elevation portions of the drawers and the locking bar as viewed from the right in FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5 and -6 are respectively fragmentary horizontal sections similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, showing a variational form of locking bar.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown therein one embodiment of the present invention. The tool chest illustrated generally at 10 includes an outer housing or one side, commonly referred to as the front side. This opening is indicated in FIG. 4 at 12. Housing 11 slidably receives and encloses a plurality of drawers 14, 15, 16 and 17 which are arranged in vertical alignment and vertically spaced from one another. Housing 11 comprises spaced top and bottom walls 20 and 21, respec tively, back wall 22, a pair of end walls of which one wall 23 is shown in FIG. 1, the wall at the other end being similar, and a partial front wall 24, the frontal opening 12 being defined by the end and bottom walls and front wall 24.

Spaced inwardly from each of the end walls 23 and parallel thereto is a vertically extending sheet metal inner partition 25. Each partition 25 extends from front opening 12 rearwardly to a position near but spaced forwardly of a rear corner of housing 11. The partition is then bent toward end wall 23 to form spacer 26 and is then reversely bent 90 to provide a flange 27 which is spot welded to outer wall 23.

A plurality of horizontally extending tracks or rails are suitably secured, as by rivets or other suitable means, to the inner face of each of partitions 25. This arrangement is shown in detail in FIG. 3 with respect to one partition 25; and it will be realized that the construction at the other side of the tool chest is the same.

There being four drawers in the tool chest, there are four sets of rails 31, 32, 33 and 34. These rails are parallel to each other and to the top and bottom walls of the housing. Each rail includes a flat base portion lying against the inner face of partition 25 and a pair of reversely bent flanges at the opposite edges of the base portion, the inner edges of such flanges being spaced apart.

Attached to each of drawers 14, 15, 16 and 17 is a similarly shaped track or rail which are designated as 35, 36, 37 and 38. These tracks are mounted on the vertically extending side faces of the drawers in a position to be opposite rails 31, 32, 33 and 34, respectively, which are attached to the partition.

Connecting the rails on the partition with the rails on the drawers are floating carrier bars 40, 41, 42 and '43 which are mounted upon and slidable relative to the two rails comprising a pair supporting a drawer at one'side thereof. Each carrier bar, as may be seen in FIG. 3, comprises a pair of upper spaced legs and a pair of lower spaced legs interconnected by a web. One upper leg and one lower leg are received within the channels provided by the reversely bent flanges on a fixed rail attached to partition 25, while the other two legs are similarly received in the corresponding portions of the movable rail attached to a drawer. These floating carrier bars permit each drawer to be supported upon partition 25, which is a part of the shell or housing, and to be withdrawn through the frontal opening 12, as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 4. This means for slidably supporting the drawers individually within the tool box housing is well known in the art and therefore need not be described in greater detail, especially as it is not limitative upon the-present invention but is merely exemplary of suitable drawer supporting means.

Although four drawers are shown, it will be realized that a different number may be used. For flexibility in drawer arrangement, rails 31, 32 and 33 are spaced at regular intervals to accommodate each a relatively shallow drawer, as shown. If it is desired to substitute a deep drawer, as 17, for drawers 15 and 16, the substitute drawer is mounted on rails 33 and rail 32 is left in place but not used.

Mechanism for locking the drawers in closed position is shown generally in FIG. 1, various details being shown in the other figures. Top drawer 14 is referred to as the control drawer since it operates the locking mechanism when the drawer is moved to the fully closed or rearward position shown in full lines in FIG. 4. In order to lock the control drawer closed, it is provided with a suitable key operated lock 45, shown in FIG. 4, since the control drawer is not locked by the locking mechanism. Lock 45 may be of any suitable type, a satisfactory design being one in which a lock finger 46 is rotated by a key inserted in lock 45 into and out of a locking position, as shown in FIG. 4, in which the locking finger is behind and in engagement with a portion of front wall 24.

The locking mechanism for locking closed drawers other than the control drawer includes locking bar 50 which is a vertically extending member slidably mounted upon the rear face of vertically extending spacer section 26 on partition 25. Locking bar 50 is preferably of angular configuration, one leg 50a of the angle being held between spacer 26 and keeper 51 attached thereto, as by spot welding at 52. Keeper 51 is sheet metal and is crimped longitudinally to space part of the keeper from the rear face of spacer 26 by the thickness of angle leg 50a, while allowing the angle to move freely up and down. Locking bar 50 is biased by gravity to a downward position, which is the release position; and the bar is movable upwardly to a raised position, which is the locking position shown in FIG. 1, by mechanism which will be described.

The other leg 50b of locking bar 50 extends rearwardly from leg 50a and is generally parallel to the sides of the drawers. As may be seen particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, leg 50b of the locking bar has a plurality of laterally extending projections or tabs 53 which have each been formed by making a short diagonal cut inwardly from the edge of the leg and then bending over, through substantially a right angle, an integral portion of the leg. These tabs 53, as will become more apparent, are located at positions along the vertical extent of the locking bar such that they can be brought into engagement with suitable detent means on the drawers to lock the individual drawers in closed position. Hence the number of tabs is equal to the maximum number of drawers below the control drawer 14 and they may be defined generally as being at the level of the drawer which they lock, but are more specifically at a position whereby they may be brought into horizontal registration with the detent means, as will be described.

This detent means comprises a spring strip 54 which is riveted at 55 or otherwise attached at its rear end to a drawer, as shown in FIG. 2. The spring strip has a portion 54a which extends forwardly and is inclined away from the side wall of the drawer and which is connected to a shoulder-forming portion 54b which extends substantially at right angles to the drawer and passes inwardly through the side wall of the drawer, as shown in FIG. 2. The inherent resiliency of the detent member 54 causes it to assume normally the full line position of FIG. 2, its outward travel being limited by the forward tip 540 of the spring detent coming into engagement with the inner face of the drawer, as shown in FIG. 2.

In order to raise the locking bar upwardly into locking position, lifting means, resembling a bell crank in operation, are provided. This crank means comprises a transversely extending rod 58 which is pivotally mounted inside housing 11 by a pair of Z-shaped brackets 57 each attached to one partition 25 near the top. Only one of the brackets 57 is shown in FIG. 1 but a similar one is located near the other end of rod 58. Rod 58 extends transversely across substantially the full width of shell 11 and is provided at each end with a radially offset terminal portion 59 which performs as a crank when rod 58 is rotated in brackets 57 about its axis. The offset portion 59 engages the underside of horizontally extending plate 60 mounted at the top of locking bar 50. Plate 60 may take any desired shape, being here shown as of angular configuration in order to provide an area for welding plate 60 to the locking bar. Crank 59 by engagement with plate 60 raises locking bar 50 to the position of FIG. 1 which is also the full line position of FIG. 4 when the crank is raised to the top of its throw, as shown in FIG. 4. This is the locking position for the locking bar and is the position in which the laterally extending tabs 53 carried by the locking bar are raised into horizontal alignment with the detents 54 carried by the drawers. In this position, the forwardly facing shoulder 54b of the detent means engages the rear edge of a tab 53 which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the drawer, thus holding the drawer against forward movement out of the housing and locking the drawer in closed position. The positions of tabs 53 and detents 54 are so chosen that they engage as shown in FIG. 2 when the drawer is moved into the fully closed position.

Rod 58 and crank 59 are rotated to the position raising the locking bar by lever or arm 62. This arm is secured to rod 58 in any suitable manner and is preferably also an angular member, as may be seen clearly in FIG. 1. Arm 62 is positioned to be engaged by control drawer 14 as the control drawer is closed. As the control drawer is moved fully inward of housing 11 to a closed position, the drawer engages arm 62, moving the lower end of the arm rearwardly from the dotted line position to the full line position in FIG. 1. This rotates rod 58 in a clockwise direction, engaging plate 60 and raising locking bar 50. When the control drawer is pulled forward out of housing 11 through frontal opening 12, arm 62 is then free to swing backwardly in a counterclockwise direction. It does this because of the weight imposed on crank 59 by locking bar 50 which, as remarked before, is gravity biased to the lower or release position. Downward travel of bar 50 may be limited by any suitable means; but it is preferred to allow tabs 53 to arrest down travel by engagement with the upper edges of fixed rails 31, 32, 33 and 34, as shown in FIG. 4.

Because of its angular configuration, a downwardly extending portion of arm 62 engages the rear wall of control drawer 14 to limit inward travel of the drawer. This prevents overtravel of the drawer and thus eliminates the possibility that arm 62 would drop down inside the drawer.

A variational construction is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in which the locking bar is mounted directly on spacer 26 by bolts 65 or the like each passing through the spacer and through a vertically elongated slot 66 in leg 50a of the locking bar. This construction replaces keeper plate 51. If desired, bolts 65 may engage the ends of slots 66 to limit up and down travel of bars 50.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that when the locking mechanism is in the operative or locking position, the individual drawers below the control drawer can be closed and locked without the locking mechanism offering any obstacle or hindrance to moving the drawers to a fully closed position. This results from the resilient nature of the spring detents 54 and the fact that they are depressible by engagement with the forward edge of a tab 53. If the spring detent engages the forward edge of a tab 53 as the drawer is moved rearwardly to a closed position, the forward end of the spring detent, not being fastened to the drawer side, moves to the dotted line position 54d of FIG. 2 in which the forward end of the detent is in the interior of the drawer. This allows the detent to pass the tab. After the detent has passed tab 53, the resilient nature of the detent causes it to spring outwardly so that the shoulder-forming portion of the detent engages the rear face of tab 53, locking the drawer closed. This is an obvious advantage over types of locking mechanisms which require that all of the drawers below the control drawer be fully closed before the control drawer is closed and locked, in order to function properly.

Another advantage of the present construction is that the locking mechanism may be adapted readily to different sizes and shapes of tool boxes without any substantial changes. For example, tabs 53 can be cut from a locking bar in any spaced arrangement or pattern required by drawers 15, 16 and 17.

Although only one locking bar 50 has been illustrated and described, since a single locking bar is adequate, it is preferred to provide two such locking bars. With this arrangement, one locking bar is located at each rear corner of the tool chest and all of the drawers to be locked thereby are provided with spring detent members 54 at each of two opposite sides. The mechanism at the opposite rear corner of the tool chest is thus a duplicate of that illustrated and described above, except that it is arranged to be of opposite hand.

A further advantage of the above-described construction is the absence of any springs which may break or malfunction. Release of the drawers is assured by the downwardmovement of the locking bars, since they are free to move downwardly under the influence of gravity.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes in the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts of the locking mechanism may occur to persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is considered to be illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tool chest comprising:

a box-like housing open at one side;

a control drawer slidably mounted in the chest to be accessible at said open side;

a second drawer slidably mounted in the chest in vertically offset relation to the control drawer;

and means operable by the control drawer for locking the second drawer in closed position, said means including a vertically extending locking bar slidably mounted on the chest for vertical movement,

a laterally projecting tab on the locking bar and movable therewith between locking and release positions, detent means on the second drawer engageable with the tab to lock the second drawer in closed position when the tab is in said locking position at the level of the detent means, a rod pivotally mounted on the chest and having an accentric crank portion at one end engageable with the locking bar to lift the bar upon rotation of the rod;

and an angular arm on the rod in position to be engaged by the rear wall of the control drawer to rotate the rod during a portion of the travel of the control drawer, said arm having an outer portion angularly disposed with respect to the remainder of the arm and movable upon rotation of the rod into substantial parallelism with the rear wall of the control drawer to limit travel of the drawer relative to the rod.

2. A tool chest comprising:

a box-like housing open at one side;

a control drawer slidably mounted in the chest to be accessible at said open side;

a second drawer slidably mounted in the chest in vertically offset relation to the control drawer;

and means operable by the control drawer for looking the second drawer in closed position, said means including a vertically extending locking bar slidably mounted on the chest for vertical movement,

a laterally projecting tab on the locking bar and movable therewith between locking and release positions,

detent means on the second drawer engageable with the tab to lock the second drawer in closed position when the tab is in said locking position at the level of the detent means,

a rod pivotally mounted on the chest above the control drawer and having an eccentric portion at one end extending laterally beyond the control drawer and engageable with the locking bar to lift the bar upon rotation of the rod;

and a lever arm attached at one end to the rod, said arm having two sections angularly disposed with respect to each other,

the lever arm being gravity biased to a lowered position depending from the rod with the other end of the arm in the path of the control drawer, and rotatable by inward movement of the control drawer to a raised position in which one section of the arm is above the drawer and extends over the rear wall of the control drawer and the other section of the arm is in engagement with the rear face of the rear wall of the control drawer.

3. A tool chest as in claim 2 in which the housing comprises:

a rear wall and an exterior side wall;

an interior partition parallel to and spaced from said side wall and also from said rear wall;

and a web connected to and spacing the partition and the side wall;

and in which the locking bar is an angle with one flange parallel to and guided by the connecting web and the other flange extends rearwardly therefrom parallel to the partition;

and which also includes drawer supporting means mounted on the interior partition slidably supporting bot-h drawers for travel to bring the detent means into engagement with the tab on the locking bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,063,844 6/ 1913 Swanson 312 221 1,595,117 8/1926 Norman 312221 1,829,770 11/1931 Tannewitz 31222l 3,029,118 4/ 1962 Schuette 312-221 FOREIGN PATENTS 162,524 5/ 1921 Great Britain.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TOOL CHEST COMPRISING: A BOX-LIKE HOUSING OPEN AT ONE SIDE; A CONTROL DRAWER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE CHEST TO BE ACCESSIBLE AT SAID OPEN SIDE; A SECOND DRAWER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE CHEST IN VERTICALLY OFFSET RELATION TO THE CONTROL DRAWER; AND MEANS OPERABLE BY THE CONTROL DRAWER FOR LOCKING THE SECOND DRAWER IN CLOSED POSITION, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING LOCKING BAR SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE CHEST FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT, A LATERALLY PROJECTING TAB ON THE LOCKING BAR AND MOVABLE THEREWITH BETWEEN LOCKING AND RELEASE POSITIONS, DETENT MEANS ON THE SECOND DRAWER ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TAB TO LOCK THE SECOND DRAWER IN CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE TAB IS IN SAID LOCKING POSITION AT THE LEVEL OF THE DETENT MEANS, A ROD PIVOTALLY ON THE CHEST AND HAVING AN ACCENTRIC CRANK PORTION AT ONE END ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOCKING BAR TO LIFT THE BAR UPON THE ROTATION OF THE ROD; 